Apawa

The capital (and only) city of the Federated Polynesian States is more a large cluster of villages, or a smallish town, than a city. Nevertheless, it is the main urban centre in the country, and thus in many ways the most Westernised part of the nation - although the traditional Maohi way of life (faka maohi) is strong even here.

Brick buildings exist alongside traditional dwellings, spaced out between gardens scattered with subsistence crops, giving the town a rather unstructured, laid-back, peaceful feel. Many of the streets are unpaved, and there are few cars, although bicycles are becoming increasingly popular.

Located on the south-west coast of the island of Orowu, Apawa has the Federation's only cinema, its only supermarket, its only restaurants, its only banks and its only hotels. It is also home to its largest museum, the Maohi Naetue Miusseam, and to its only university, the University of Polynesia. The Council of Chiefs gathers in Apawa, which is also the official home of the ruling monarch, Supreme Ahiki Rewa.

Outside the town, the single runway of Apawa International airport reaches across part of the island, and doubles as a road when no planes are scheduled to land or take off.